Pilot beam



Sept. 24, 1929. w. M. SHEEHAN PILOT BEAM Filed March 10, 1928 WM ...a w/711% 3/ ../m fix w f w05 4 E l .z J

Patented sept. 24, 1929 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM M. SHEEHAN,OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T Q GENERALSTEEL CASTINGS CORPORATION, OF GRANITE CITY, ILLI- NOIS, A CORPORATIONOF DELAWARE .'PILOT BEAM Application filed March 10, 1928. Serial No.260,792.

My invention relates to railway rolling stock and consists in a novelconstruction of the transverse end member of a railway vehicle framingadapted to mountthe uncoupling lever or levers which are in general use.

It has been the practice heretofore to provide a plurality of brackets,formed separately from the framing member, and to assemble the same withthe framing by bolting, riveting or other means. This const-ructioninvolves a substantial amount of fitting, drilling or other machiningwhen the brackets are applied to the frame member and, due to theexposed position of the brackets and the levers mounted thereon, thesecuring elements frequently loosen so that the brackets are not rigidand may even become detached from their base and, in either case, failto function properly in journaling the uncoupling levers.

The object of my invention is to eliminate these disadvantages, and Iattain this object by forming the brackets integrally with the framingmember, thereby eliminating all machining necessary for assembling thetwo parts and also eliminating the likelihood of the uncoupling leverournals in the brackets being disaligned or the likelihood of the un- SOcoupling lever dropping because of the failure of one or more of itsbrackets or the bracket holding elements.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a selected embodiment ofmy inven- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a locomotive pilot beamprovided with integral uncoupling lever brackets.

Figure 2 is a top view of the same.

0 Figure 3 is an end view of the same and is drawn on an enlarged scale.

Figure l is a vertical transverse section taken on line 4 4 of Figureland drawn on an enlarged scale.

5 The pilot beam illustrated is of a general box section having a frontwall l, rear wall 2,

top wall 3, a lower wall 4, and an intermediate horizontal web 5 whichforms the lower wall of the beam at the ends thereof which 0 are of lessdepth than the central portion,

'Preferably the beam is formed of a onepiece casting and near each endof the same I provide a bracket comprising an upward and outwardextension 6 of the front wall 1 and suitable reinforcing ribs 7, thesame merging at the upper end to form two ears 8 providing a bearing 9between them in which the outer end of the uncoupling lever 10 may bejournaled.

Near the center of the beam I provide a central bracket including aforwardly facing web l1. extending upwardly and outwardly from the frontwall of the beam, and terminating in a rearwardly extending flange lla.The same is reinforced by suitable ribs 1Q. This bracket is somewhatwider than the end brackets and is provided with spaced ears 13 and 14,each pair of ears providing a bearing 15 for the inner end of one of theuncoupling levers 10. This bracket may be perforated as indicated at 16to lighten the y casting and preferably a reinforcing rib 17 willsurround the opening 16.

lVhile I have illustrated my invention as embodied in the pilot beam ofa locomotive, it will be understood that the brackets may be formedintegrally with the end sill of a car where they will function the sameas on a pilot beam.

lVhile I have shown a bracket on each end of the pilot beam and abracket with a double bearing at the center of the pilot beam, in orderto mount two uncoupling levers, it will be understood that brackets maybe provided for a single uncoupling lever if desired.

Various other modifications in the retails of the structure may be madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and I contemplate theexclusive use of such moditications as come within the scope of myclaims.

I claim:

l. A railway Vehicle framing transverse end member having an uncouplinglever bracket formed integrally therewith. i

2. A one-piece casting comprising arailway vehicle framing transverseend member and including a bracketv for mountingan uncoupling lever.

8. A one-piece casting comprising a railway vehicle framing transversemember having a box-shape body cross section and including abracketextending upwardly from the top wall of said body and forwardlyof the front wall of said body.

4. In arailway vehicle framing transverse end member, bracketsintegrally with said member and .located intermediatethe ends thereofand near an end thereof respectively, said brackets having alignedbearings for journaling an uncoupling lever.

5. In a railway vehicle framing transverse end member, side bracketsformed integrally with said member and located near the ends thereof andprovided with uncoupling lever bearings, and a center bracket formedintegrally with said member and located intermediate the ends thereofand having a plurality of uncoupling lever bearings, each aligned withthe bearing in one of said side brackets.

` 6. A one-piece casting forming a box` shaped end member for a railwayvehicle framing and including a box-shaped body and integral bracketsextending upwardly and outwardly from the top front edge of said body,located near the center and at each end of said body, respectively, andprovided with bearings for journaling muncoupling levers extending fromthe center of said member to each side thereof and operatingindependently of each other.

7. A locomotive pilot beam with an uncoupling lever bracket formedintegrally therewith.

8. A one-piece casting comprising a locomotive pilot beam including aplurality of uncoupling lever brackets extending upwardly therefrom: i

9. A one-piece casting comprising a loco- 46 motive pilot beam having abody of boxshape cross section, a portion of the front wall of whichextends upwardly to form an uncoupling lever bracket.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature this 28th day ofFebruary, 1928.

`WILLIAM M. SHEEHAN.

